Post by admin on Feb 3, 2004 13:09:51 GMT -5
3. Dispersal and Settlement of Gujjars
By Late Abu-al-Barkaat Molvi Mohammad Abdul Malik KhanMajority of Gujjars are at present spread over north-western parts of India, extending from Indus to Ganges and from the hills of Hazarah to Gujrat. Bengal too had once remained the centre of Gujjars but they are now converted into other castes.
The areas on the banks of Ganges and Jamna rivers, and district of Sharanpur, which was at one time known as Gujrat, is dominant with Gujjars. On the east of Bundel Khand area in the mini State of Simther and the northern district of Gwallior, which is even now known as Gujjargadh, Gujjars are settle in large numbers. The State of Rampur in U.P and Bundel Khand too have abundance of Gujjars who belong to both the faiths the Hindus and the Muslims. In Rampur U.P a very big Mohalla, Gujjar Tola is domiciled by the Gujjars.
Small Groups of Gujjars are also sprinkled and spread out on a wide area of eastern Rajputana. The Gujjars, however, constitute a majority population in western States and Gujrat. On the south of Delhi the kings came from Rewadi Gujjars. In south of Punjab, Gujjar population is quite small. However, on the northern side their number is large enough inasmuch as several districts are familiar with Gujjar names such as Gujaranwalla in Rachna Duab (tract of land between two rivers), Chahaj Duab in Gujrat, Gujjar Khan in Daab of Sindh Sagar. In the district of Jhelum, areas Hussan Ibdal and even Hazara they are dominantly inhabited by Gujjar.
From Peshawar to Swat Benaer, Gujjars are found coherently or incoherently settled. Hazara according to Aee-n-Akbari is known as Hazara Gujjar. Besides Gujjars are settled in mountain tracts of Hazara district Kashmir and thingych. They are also found in good numbers in Chitral valley, Sheshi Koh, and Pushgal. Gujrat and Kathiawar too have remained the centre of Gujjars from ancient times although they have now changed their castes.
Gujjars are settled far and wide alongwith the sea-shores somuchso the seashore from Beirut to Mahazi had been halting place of Chechi clan of Gujjars. This clan has now mingled with other clans. Many groups of Gujjars exist in the valley of Sheshi Koh and Shigal. In the State of Abna and Chitral too Gujjars are found. Kashmir and Gwallior is the abode of Gujjars. They are also found in the vicnity of Taxla near Tairi Shahan and around. Gujjar constitute a dominant tribe there.
Gujjars are conspicuous by their large number in the Sindh Parganas of Chilas and Pilas and on the western side of river. The southern part of Hindukush is known by the name of Kujal because of Gujjar settlements in large numbers in the area. A big segment of Gujjar migrants had gone and settled in Bengal too. Undoubtedly this fact with the name of Gorran refreshes the memory.
In the Central Asia, Khuwarzim, Azar Baijan are their native home. We have mentioned some where else in this book (Shahan-e-Gujjar) that on the banks of river Halmand, Gurjaristan, Gujjars Khasi are two well known places. Gujjar Khasi is situated on the roadside of Sestaan, while as Gurjaristan is a place of historic significance dating back ten thousand years. In the bygone days they were settled in Kabul at a village known as Gurjani. In other countries where Gujjars are settled include Russia, China, Turkistan, Iran, Tibet, Egypt etc. Sea of Khazzar is still remembered with the Gujjar name Khazzar. From the census reports precise and elaborate details about their number etc of Gujjars could be ascertained.
GUJJAR POPULATION
Any tribe while migrating to other places for accomplishing certain objectives or invades some other country, a chunk of its population continues to say away at their native land, is a fact that can not be denied. We have already stated that Gujjars have come from Central Asia and as such this tribe still continues to exist there. On the banks of river Halmand two settlements of the name of Gujarastan and Gujjar Khasi still stand. Traces of another locality of Gurjistan was found in the vicinity of Gazni.
In the frontier areas a tribe of Gujjar Khail also exit.
Keeping in view the accepted norms that a cultural tribe spreads its tentacles far and near around the areas where it is basically settled, our conception that Gujjars do exits in China, Russia, and other several territories, cannot be ruled out. We have already mentioned that in Russia and China, Kousa, Qazir, Khazir are misnomer of Gujjars names in Russia and China similarly Gujjars are found in Turkistan Kabul, etc. It is likely that they got merged with other tribes after changing their lineage. There is however, no doubt that a Gujjar Khail tribe exits even up to now. We have met these people and this made us to feel as much of pleasure and pride as we derived from our meeting with the Gujjars of Kaagan, Kashmir and thingych.
Khurazim, Caspian, Azar Baijan, Seestan, Turkistan had been occupied by Gujjar Jirgahs (tribal jury) and even now continues under their occupation.
Occupation of Arab-shores by Gujjars became known quite pretty long time back. We have a wide field open for the conduct of research on tribal and ethical aspects of Gujjars. Gurjaristan has a history dating back several thousand years at its back. But for the out-break of Kabul war, we could have succeeded to get over it. The concept of Turks were Gujjars should not be overlooked. This could even provides easy clues for tracing the Gujjar homeland and other informutes. Besides Gujjar clans can provide us leads about the halting places and condition of Gujjars in the past. Certain historians have described Baroi and Hazara as Gujjars. We have given details of Gujjar clans at some other place in the book. It is, however, a proved fact that Gujjar population existed from central Asia to Punjab and Central India and beyond upto sea shore. In certain areas the tribes possibly merged with other tribes or adopted some other clan. Chohan, Parmar, Preetihar, Solanki, Tammar, Ghelot are undoubtedly Gujjars but call themselves to be Rajputs. Gunddal and its all offshoots are basically Chohan but merged with Jatts.
Lakhs of Gujjars were settled in Gujrat and Kathiawar, where they had established empires. The number of Gujjars has now diminished there because of migration, due to famine, towards north and where some of these individuals took to other professions. Some adopted goldsmithy, some masonry etc. and became known with their new professions so-much-so these people forgot even the word “Gujjar”. There appears no other reason as to why the vast State known as Gujarat due to establishment of Gujjar
empire there, became devoid of Gujjars.
Some members of four tribal fraternity are acquainted with the glory and pomp and show of the quam. May be it is because some authors of Gazetteers who have not used good words about Gujjars, or because that Gujjars in cities are milk-sellers which made Gujjars to feel apathetic to be called Gujjars and began to claim that they were Rajputs and after entering into kinship with Gujjars were being counted among Gujjars. In census reports they do not define themselves to be Gujjars. These people should peep into pages of history. They can even become Rajputs while remaining as Gujjars especially in view of the fact that the history establishes that Gujjars is an imperial tribe, and Gujjars and Rajputs are two faces of the same coin and their common as well as peculiar traits are one and the same. We, however, with due respects, bring home to them that in certain cities Rajputs and Khishtaries also sell milk and in such a situation one is at a loss to understand as to which tribe they should get merged, since the problem continues unchanged even while remaining as Rajputs.
By Late Abu-al-Barkaat Molvi Mohammad Abdul Malik KhanMajority of Gujjars are at present spread over north-western parts of India, extending from Indus to Ganges and from the hills of Hazarah to Gujrat. Bengal too had once remained the centre of Gujjars but they are now converted into other castes.
The areas on the banks of Ganges and Jamna rivers, and district of Sharanpur, which was at one time known as Gujrat, is dominant with Gujjars. On the east of Bundel Khand area in the mini State of Simther and the northern district of Gwallior, which is even now known as Gujjargadh, Gujjars are settle in large numbers. The State of Rampur in U.P and Bundel Khand too have abundance of Gujjars who belong to both the faiths the Hindus and the Muslims. In Rampur U.P a very big Mohalla, Gujjar Tola is domiciled by the Gujjars.
Small Groups of Gujjars are also sprinkled and spread out on a wide area of eastern Rajputana. The Gujjars, however, constitute a majority population in western States and Gujrat. On the south of Delhi the kings came from Rewadi Gujjars. In south of Punjab, Gujjar population is quite small. However, on the northern side their number is large enough inasmuch as several districts are familiar with Gujjar names such as Gujaranwalla in Rachna Duab (tract of land between two rivers), Chahaj Duab in Gujrat, Gujjar Khan in Daab of Sindh Sagar. In the district of Jhelum, areas Hussan Ibdal and even Hazara they are dominantly inhabited by Gujjar.
From Peshawar to Swat Benaer, Gujjars are found coherently or incoherently settled. Hazara according to Aee-n-Akbari is known as Hazara Gujjar. Besides Gujjars are settled in mountain tracts of Hazara district Kashmir and thingych. They are also found in good numbers in Chitral valley, Sheshi Koh, and Pushgal. Gujrat and Kathiawar too have remained the centre of Gujjars from ancient times although they have now changed their castes.
Gujjars are settled far and wide alongwith the sea-shores somuchso the seashore from Beirut to Mahazi had been halting place of Chechi clan of Gujjars. This clan has now mingled with other clans. Many groups of Gujjars exist in the valley of Sheshi Koh and Shigal. In the State of Abna and Chitral too Gujjars are found. Kashmir and Gwallior is the abode of Gujjars. They are also found in the vicnity of Taxla near Tairi Shahan and around. Gujjar constitute a dominant tribe there.
Gujjars are conspicuous by their large number in the Sindh Parganas of Chilas and Pilas and on the western side of river. The southern part of Hindukush is known by the name of Kujal because of Gujjar settlements in large numbers in the area. A big segment of Gujjar migrants had gone and settled in Bengal too. Undoubtedly this fact with the name of Gorran refreshes the memory.
In the Central Asia, Khuwarzim, Azar Baijan are their native home. We have mentioned some where else in this book (Shahan-e-Gujjar) that on the banks of river Halmand, Gurjaristan, Gujjars Khasi are two well known places. Gujjar Khasi is situated on the roadside of Sestaan, while as Gurjaristan is a place of historic significance dating back ten thousand years. In the bygone days they were settled in Kabul at a village known as Gurjani. In other countries where Gujjars are settled include Russia, China, Turkistan, Iran, Tibet, Egypt etc. Sea of Khazzar is still remembered with the Gujjar name Khazzar. From the census reports precise and elaborate details about their number etc of Gujjars could be ascertained.
GUJJAR POPULATION
Any tribe while migrating to other places for accomplishing certain objectives or invades some other country, a chunk of its population continues to say away at their native land, is a fact that can not be denied. We have already stated that Gujjars have come from Central Asia and as such this tribe still continues to exist there. On the banks of river Halmand two settlements of the name of Gujarastan and Gujjar Khasi still stand. Traces of another locality of Gurjistan was found in the vicinity of Gazni.
In the frontier areas a tribe of Gujjar Khail also exit.
Keeping in view the accepted norms that a cultural tribe spreads its tentacles far and near around the areas where it is basically settled, our conception that Gujjars do exits in China, Russia, and other several territories, cannot be ruled out. We have already mentioned that in Russia and China, Kousa, Qazir, Khazir are misnomer of Gujjars names in Russia and China similarly Gujjars are found in Turkistan Kabul, etc. It is likely that they got merged with other tribes after changing their lineage. There is however, no doubt that a Gujjar Khail tribe exits even up to now. We have met these people and this made us to feel as much of pleasure and pride as we derived from our meeting with the Gujjars of Kaagan, Kashmir and thingych.
Khurazim, Caspian, Azar Baijan, Seestan, Turkistan had been occupied by Gujjar Jirgahs (tribal jury) and even now continues under their occupation.
Occupation of Arab-shores by Gujjars became known quite pretty long time back. We have a wide field open for the conduct of research on tribal and ethical aspects of Gujjars. Gurjaristan has a history dating back several thousand years at its back. But for the out-break of Kabul war, we could have succeeded to get over it. The concept of Turks were Gujjars should not be overlooked. This could even provides easy clues for tracing the Gujjar homeland and other informutes. Besides Gujjar clans can provide us leads about the halting places and condition of Gujjars in the past. Certain historians have described Baroi and Hazara as Gujjars. We have given details of Gujjar clans at some other place in the book. It is, however, a proved fact that Gujjar population existed from central Asia to Punjab and Central India and beyond upto sea shore. In certain areas the tribes possibly merged with other tribes or adopted some other clan. Chohan, Parmar, Preetihar, Solanki, Tammar, Ghelot are undoubtedly Gujjars but call themselves to be Rajputs. Gunddal and its all offshoots are basically Chohan but merged with Jatts.
Lakhs of Gujjars were settled in Gujrat and Kathiawar, where they had established empires. The number of Gujjars has now diminished there because of migration, due to famine, towards north and where some of these individuals took to other professions. Some adopted goldsmithy, some masonry etc. and became known with their new professions so-much-so these people forgot even the word “Gujjar”. There appears no other reason as to why the vast State known as Gujarat due to establishment of Gujjar
empire there, became devoid of Gujjars.
Some members of four tribal fraternity are acquainted with the glory and pomp and show of the quam. May be it is because some authors of Gazetteers who have not used good words about Gujjars, or because that Gujjars in cities are milk-sellers which made Gujjars to feel apathetic to be called Gujjars and began to claim that they were Rajputs and after entering into kinship with Gujjars were being counted among Gujjars. In census reports they do not define themselves to be Gujjars. These people should peep into pages of history. They can even become Rajputs while remaining as Gujjars especially in view of the fact that the history establishes that Gujjars is an imperial tribe, and Gujjars and Rajputs are two faces of the same coin and their common as well as peculiar traits are one and the same. We, however, with due respects, bring home to them that in certain cities Rajputs and Khishtaries also sell milk and in such a situation one is at a loss to understand as to which tribe they should get merged, since the problem continues unchanged even while remaining as Rajputs.